Against the backdrop of an increasing number of cases of intimidation of journalists, the Independent Journalism Center, together with co-signing organizations, calls on the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to strengthen, as a matter of priority, legal guarantees regarding the safety and protection of journalists to address emerging threats to the press and counteract the culture of impunity.
In recent months, we have witnessed with deep concern an alarming escalation of attacks against media representatives, manifested in death threats, physical harm or damage to journalists’ property, offensive harassment and intimidation of reporters documenting protests or approaching politicians to ask questions, cyber attacks, and coordinated campaigns to discredit the image of newsrooms and journalists, etc.
We note with regret that the special guarantees for the protection of the media currently enshrined in the national legal framework – specifically, Article 180/1 of the Criminal Code, which criminalises actions that intentionally obstruct the work of the media or intimidate journalists for their criticism – are insufficient and ineffective. This observation is supported both by the lack of cases in which this mechanism has been applied in practice and by the proliferation of impunity, especially among certain categories of politically motivated perpetrators with hostile attitudes toward the press.
The recent case in which journalist Mihail Sirkeli faced a huge wave of coordinated attacks and threats, as well as the frequency of incidents recorded since the beginning of this year in which reporters were attacked and insulted by members of political parties and “protesters” associated with fugitive politician Ilan Shor, shows that addressing the issue of journalists’ insecurity must be a priority.
The urgency of addressing these “gaps” in the system of legal safeguards also stems from the obligations assumed by the Republic of Moldova as a candidate country for EU membership. Among the responsibilities related to the alignment of national laws with the EU acquis is the implementation of: the 2021 EU Recommendation on the safety of journalists; The 2022 Recommendation on the protection of journalists and human rights defenders against manifestly unfounded or abusive legal proceedings (strategic lawsuits against public participation – SLAPPs); and the European Media Freedom Act (2024), particularly with regard to the use of intrusive surveillance tools against journalists.
We welcome the recent intention expressed by the relevant parliamentary committee and the Ministry of Culture to develop policies and regulations that will contribute to enhancing the safety and protection of journalists.
We call on the relevant authorities of the Republic of Moldova to treat this objective as a priority, ensuring:
- The review and strengthening of the legal framework for the protection of journalists, including by improving regulations establishing criminal liability for attacks and intimidation against the press and introducing anti-SLAPP measures;
- Strict regulation of the use of surveillance software against journalists, in accordance with the European Act on Media Freedom, with clearly defined and justified exceptions.
- Establish a monitoring, alert, and rapid response mechanism to document cases of aggression against journalists and ensure a prompt and effective response.
- Training of the competent authorities, in particular the police and the prosecution service, on the specifics of investigating cases of violence or intimidation against the press, as well as allocation of the necessary resources for effective law enforcement.
- Ensuring the safety of journalists by the General Police Inspectorate during protests and public events, as well as prompt intervention whenever their physical or moral integrity is endangered.
- Implement a mechanism for constant monitoring of the situation, including through the publication of reports and recommendations on respect for journalists’ rights.
Independent Journalism Center
Organizations that have joined the statement:
- Center for Investigative Journalism
- Committee for Freedom of the Press
- Association of Environmental and EcoTourism Journalists
- Electronic Press Association
- Independent Press Association
- Access-Info Center
- Media-Guard Association
- Amnesty International Moldova
